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| Budgeting Basics | |
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| The Changing Face of Marriage | |
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| Marriage in the Old Days | |
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| Times Change and So Does Marriage | |
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| The Roaring Twenties | |
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| The Depression and War Years | |
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| The Fabulous Fifties | |
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| The '60s, '70s, and '80s | |
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| Toward the New Millennium | |
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| Who Pays for What? | |
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| Determining How Much Money to Spend | |
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| Is Doing It Yourself an Option? | |
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| Preparing Your Own Food for the Reception | |
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| Cooking for a Crowd | |
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| Food Prep | |
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| When to Call in the Pros | |
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| Is Doing It Yourself Really Cheaper? | |
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| Just Desserts | |
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| Bring a Dish | |
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| Providing Your Own Beverages | |
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| Using Recorded Music for Your Ceremony | |
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| Using Flowers from Your Garden for the Bouquets | |
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| Having a Friend or Relative Take the Pictures | |
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| Getting Organized | |
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| Organizing Your Records | |
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| Countdown to a Wedding | |
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| Questions You'll Want to Ask | |
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| Creating Your Payment Calendar | |
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| Your Address Book | |
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| Creating a Budget | |
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| Getting Ready for the Big Day: Wedding Essentials | |
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| Weddings "R" Us: Calling in the Pros | |
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| Wedding Directors | |
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| Wedding Guilds | |
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| Bridal Consultants | |
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| Getting the Blood Test | |
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| A License to Be Married | |
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| Reception Rental Fees | |
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| The Officiant's Fee | |
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| Dressing the Bride | |
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| Buying a Dress Fit for a Princess | |
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| Traditional Bridal Shops | |
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| What Is a Bridal Warehouse? | |
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| David's Bridal | |
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| Personal Buying Service for Brides | |
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| Rent a Gown? | |
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| Resale Shops | |
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| Something Borrowed | |
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| The Perfect Fit | |
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| Trains | |
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| Bustles | |
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| Your Headpiece and Veil | |
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| The Secrets Underneath It All | |
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| Your Prince Charming | |
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| Tuxedo Etiquette | |
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| Where Do Tuxedos Come From? | |
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| Rent or Buy? | |
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| Do I Have to Be Married in a Tuxedo? | |
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| "Just tell me when to show up!" | |
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| Ring My Chimes | |
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| The Paper Chase | |
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| Get Up and Go | |
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| Pick Up the Loose Ends | |
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| Toasts | |
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| A Rose By Any Other Name | |
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| Bigger Is Not Always Better | |
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| Let Your Florist Guide You | |
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| Sharing Flowers | |
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| Corsages, Throwaway Bouquets, and Boutonnieres | |
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| Doing It Yourself: Low-Cost Decorating Ideas | |
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| Understanding the Contract | |
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| Photography and the Music of the Night | |
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| Professional Photographer or Talented Amateur? | |
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| Choosing a Photographer | |
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| The Cost Involved | |
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| Candid Camera | |
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| Face to Face Meeting | |
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| Minimums or Packages? | |
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| By the Hour, By the Event ... What Does It All Mean? | |
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| Lights! Camera! Action! | |
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| Choosing Your Music | |
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| Face the Music: Disc Jockey or Live Band? | |
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| How Many Pieces and How Many Hours? | |
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| That's the Breaks | |
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| Music for the Ceremony | |
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| Sharing the Excitement | |
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| Invitation to a Wedding | |
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| Anatomy of a Wedding Invitation | |
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| Engraving Versus Thermography | |
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| Do You Need a Reception Card? | |
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| Selecting a Type Style | |
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| Purchasing Invitations | |
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| Black Tie | |
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| Mailing Your Invitations | |
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| What's on the Weekend Program? | |
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| More Things to Consider When Budgeting | |
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| Bridesmaids' Luncheon | |
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| The Sports Tournament | |
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| Bridal Showers and Luncheons | |
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| Rehearsal/Prenuptial Dinner | |
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| Brunch | |
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| The Rings | |
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| The Engagement Ring | |
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| The Wedding Bands | |
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| Weddinginsurance | |
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| Favors | |
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| Your Honored Guests | |
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| Deciding On the Guest List | |
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| It's Okay to Limit Your Guest List | |
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| After All, It's Your Money | |
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| Inviting Your Friends | |
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| Shall I Bring a Guest? Will You Be My Escort? | |
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| Bring Your Partner | |
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| I'm Bringing the Entire Family! | |
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| What About Coworkers? | |
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| People Far Away | |
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| Responses! | |
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| Welcome, Honored Guests | |
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| Discounted Room Rates | |
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| Complimentary Rooms | |
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| Do You Need a Hospitality Suite? | |
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| The Bridal Suite | |
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| Airline Discounts: Are They Worth the Effort? | |
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| How Will Your Guests Get From Point A to Point B? | |
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| Getting It All Down on Paper | |
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| What's Included in Your Budget? | |
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| Budgeting Tools | |
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| Setting Your Priorities | |
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| Estimate High--Spend Less! | |
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| How Do You Know What Things Cost? | |
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| Attire | |
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| Photography | |
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| Video | |
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| Flowers | |
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| Music | |
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| Invitations | |
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| Sticking to Your Budget | |
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| Money, Money, Money! | |
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| Organizing Your Money | |
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| Keeping Tabs on Your Spending | |
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| Places to Find Money | |
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| Open a Special Checking Account | |
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| Read Every Contract ... Even the Small Print | |
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| A Sample Contract, Step by Step | |
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| How to Protect Yourself and Your Budget | |
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| And Then There's Premarital Debt! | |
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| Just the Facts, Ma'am | |
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| Meet Me at the Church on Time | |
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| Setting the Right Date | |
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| Setting the Time | |
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| Choosing the Ceremony Site | |
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| What's Your Wedding Style? | |
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| Start with Your Dreams--What Do You Want? | |
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| How Do You Imagine Your Reception? | |
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| The Formal Reception | |
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| The Semiformal Reception | |
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| The Informal Reception | |
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| The Bridal Party | |
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| Reception Details | |
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| Eat, Drink, and Be Married! | |
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| The One-Stop-Shop Reception | |
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| The Do-It-Yourself Reception | |
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| Hiring Your Own Vendors | |
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| Selecting Your Caterer | |
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| Can You Bring Your Own Caterer? | |
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| Dessert Reception, Seated Dinner, or Buffet? | |
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| Beer and Wine or an Open Bar? | |
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| I Could Have Danced All Night | |
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| Selecting Your Entertainers | |
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| Finding a Disc Jockey (DJ) | |
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| Choosing a Live Band | |
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| Your Reception "Script" | |
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| The "Soundtrack" of Your Wedding | |
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| Selecting Your Ceremony Music | |
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| And for Reception Music | |
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| The First Dance | |
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| Father/Bride and Mother/Groom Dance | |
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| What Does That Contract Say? | |
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| You Ought to Be in Pictures | |
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| Interviewing a Wedding Photographer | |
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| Who's in This Picture? | |
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| Is the Photographer for You? | |
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| Understanding a Photographer's Contract | |
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| Assistants Are Very Important | |
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| Avoiding "Bait and Switch" | |
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| Flowers, Linens, Decorations, and Themes | |
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| Selecting a Florist | |
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| A Sample Designer's Contract | |
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| What Is a Seasonal Flower? | |
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| Silk Versus Fresh Flowers | |
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| Balloons as Decorations | |
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| Preserving Your Bouquet | |
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| "Moving" Memories of the Wedding Day | |
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| Selecting a Professional Videographer | |
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| What Makes a Good Videotape? | |
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| How Will the Tape Be Edited? | |
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| Capturing the Sound | |
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| Master, First Generation, or Second Generation? | |
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| What Type Video Do You Want? | |
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| What If the Videographer Does Not Require a Contract? | |
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| Your Wedding Cake: A Sweet to Build a Dream On | |
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| Finding a Bakery | |
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| Retail Bakeries | |
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| Caterer or Reception Site | |
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| Private Bakers | |
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| Grocery Store Bakeries | |
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| What Flavor Cake Do You Want? | |
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| What Does a Wedding Cake Cost? | |
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| Displaying the Cake | |
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| Pick a Corner | |
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| Don't Move! | |
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| How High Is the Sky? | |
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| On the Level | |
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| Return the Favor | |
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| The Groom's Cake | |
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| The Cake Topper | |
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| A Cut Above | |
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| Wedding Cakes Around the World | |
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| The Honeymoon | |
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| Planning the Perfect Honeymoon | |
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| Those Special Memories | |
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| What's Your Perfect Honeymoon? | |
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| Working with a Travel Agent | |
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| Finding a Travel Agent | |
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| Getting a Good Deal | |
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| Going the Distance | |
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| Keeping the Honey in Your Honeymoon | |
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| Be a Packing Pro | |
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| Rain or Shine? | |
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| Try Not to Lose It | |
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| Don't Forget the Small Stuff | |
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| Keep It Light | |
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| Time and Place Bargains | |
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| Shop 'Til You Drop | |
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| Honeymoon Bits and Pieces | |
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| The Wedding Night | |
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| Be a Smart Traveler | |
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| Cruisin' on a Sunday Afternoon | |
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| The Cost of Getting to the Ship | |
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| Getting More for Your Money | |
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| The Right Time to Sail | |
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| Renting a Car | |
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| Hidden Charges | |
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| Watch Your Mileage | |
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| Odds and Ends | |
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| A Few Tips About Tipping | |
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| Planning Ahead to Use Your Frequent-Traveler Programs | |
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| Have a Safe Trip | |
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| Choosing the Right Hotel | |
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| Keep Those Numbers Secret | |
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| Come on In! | |
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| Don't Be an Easy Mark | |
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| Appendixes | |
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| Glossary of Wedding Attire | |
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| Looking for More Information? | |
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| Wedding Insurance | |
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| A Southern Charm Wedding for 150 Guests | |
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| Master Bridal Consultants | |
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| Index | |